Family of Six Explores 22 National Parks in 2022

She Who Wanders

Nov 30

8 Questions with Kyana from Black Adventure Mom

Say hello to Kyana! Lover of family, adventure and being outdoors. She’s the powerful voice behind Black Adventure Mom, a space for families to be inspired and equipped to go on epic outdoor adventures with their kids.

A courageous mama making an incredible impact not only on her own family but families around the world, Kyana set a goal in 2022 to see 22 National Parks around the US. Along the way, she and her family have had endless amounts of adventures that have taught them resilience, perseverance, a love and care for nature and also created an incredible bond for their family. She’s even coined the term “adventure bond,” the perfect description for the magic that happens when adventuring together as a family.

Q: I love how passionate you are about not only getting your kids out in nature, but also experiencing it often yourself! When and how was your passion for nature and outdoor adventure ignited?

I have always loved nature. I grew up in Washington, DC, which is more metropolitan and doesn’t have a lot of wild spaces. But I still enjoyed local parks. We were lucky to have a small park across the street from our house. I went there often to ride my bike and play sports. I even had a favorite tree there I would go and climb and sit for hours reading. I loved the way I felt when I was in nature so it made me want to come back over and over again.

Q: The Great Wanderlust is all about moms stepping outside of the box and diving deeper in both travel and in life! The mission is to inspire mamas and families to feel fully alive through adventure and exploration! What is your great wanderlust? What most makes you come to life?

Spending time in nature is definitely my Wanderlust. We love finding wilder spaces to explore. I love experiencing waterfalls, mountains, forests, and beaches with my family. The natural world is so beautiful and each space is so unique. It’s exciting to experience just how beautiful the world can be.

Q: Tell us a little bit about what lights you up in spreading the message of outdoor adventure to BIPOC families? Why is that so important to you?

On one of our first road trips with the kids, we drove from Washington, DC, where we lived at the time, to Las Vegas. We stopped at the Grand Canyon early in the morning and explored. By the evening, we were star gazing in Sedona, Arizona. It was a wonderful day. And I remember thinking I wish my grandmother could see this. But she never traveled beyond Virginia and DC. She never took a cross country road trip. She never visited a national park. She grew up in a time where it was illegal for Black Americans to visit national parks. She also grew up during a time where rural spaces in her own home town were unsafe due to racial violence so she certainly didn’t feel safe venturing out.

I want BIPOC families to know they deserve to explore the world too. They can take up space and travel with their families. It’s important for our children to know this world belongs to them and they have a place in it.

Q: You use the term “adventure bond” to describe time spent outdoors with your kids. What does this term mean to you and how is it part of your motivation to prioritize outdoor travel and adventure with your kids?

Adventure Bonds transform us in the most magical ways. An adventure bond is when you experience new and exciting moments together to form deep and lasting connections. As my children grow older and start creating their own lives, I want them to remember our adventures and how safe they felt taking risk and how supported they felt trying new things and exploring new places. And when they are out in the world adulting, I hope the bond reminds them they are forever loved.

Q: I love that you’ve made a goal to visit all the National Parks in the U.S.! What motivated you to set this inspiring goal? Tell us about your favorite parks you’ve hit up so far, and what values you hope this will instill in your kids.

We love the national parks. They are so gorgeous and a fun way to start exploring natural spaces. And they’re all so unique! Each one we visited has made us want to see more. Our favorite park so far is Yosemite. It’s huge with so much to explore. I hope visiting all of the national parks will show my kids anything is possible. I hope it will give them a road map to dream of something amazing and achieve it.

Q: When adventuring with kids outdoors, there is always risk involved! What advice would you give to parents who want to get out and explore, but fear of their kids getting hurt stops them in their tracks or even makes the adventure hard to enjoy? How do you handle letting your kids take bigger risks and push their limits? Why is this important to you?

Start small! Go to a local park. Allow your kids to climb things that make you uncomfortable, but be there to support them and help as needed. Then try visiting a start park and gradually, as you’re comfortable and your kids are building their own skills and self trust, let them take more and more risks. It’s a process and a journey and it’s not always easy. I still get nervous or scared because my kids are a lot more adventurous than I am! But it’s important that our kids know themselves deeply and know how to grow and stretch themselves. Childhood risks set the foundation for confident adults who know how to create fulfilling lives on their own terms.

Q: Where are you off to next and what are you most looking forward to about it?

We are headed to Montana, Washington, and Oregon to explore natural spaces and national parks! We’re so excited. We’re really looking forward to it because we’ve never explored natural spaces in these states. It’s going to be a fun adventure!

Q: Anything else you’d like to share with other mamas relating to travel or life?

Exploring the world isn’t just for our kids, it’s for us! It helps us cultivate an adventurous and exciting existence that makes us feel empowered, alive, and optimistic.